People visit the beach while waiting for Hurricane Michael in Panama City Beach, Florida. Storm surges and subsequent flooding remain a major concern as governors across the region declare states of emergency and residents either flee or hunker down.

Governor Scott called for coastal residents to evacuate, saying: "It could be the difference between life and death".

"Hurricane Michael is a monstrous storm".

Hurricane Michael is projected to make landfall along the western Florida coast on Wednesday and pass through parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

The effects of Hurricane Michael may cause residential areas to become uninhabitable for weeks or possibly even months.

Any time a tropical system, and it's remnants, move north up the East Coast we need to be concerned here in ME for wind and rain.

Residents in Florida and neighboring states have been told to leave their homes ahead of the devastating weather.

More than 300 miles of coastline was under threat, the National Weather Service has said.

The storm was heading north at 13 mph (20 kph) and was about 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Panama City, Florida, the NHC said.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday: "We are very well prepared for the incoming hurricane".

The NHC said that it could hit anywhere along the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area.

"The time for evacuating along the coast has come and gone". Scott expanded the order on Monday to encompass 35 counties. "Listen to locals. Don't go out in the middle of this, you're not going to survive it".

On Tuesday, Mr Scott said he activated 2500 Florida National Guard troops in preparation for the storm.

The neighbouring states of Alabama and Georgia have also declared a state of emergency. This is an indication of the storm's organization, and with Michael's satellite appearance actually improving as the storm approaches land, some slight further intensification is possible today before landfall near Panama City.

According to the Associated Press, six people were killed in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador.

In St. Marks, John Hargan and his family gathered up their pets and evacuated to a raised building constructed to withstand a Category 5 after water from the St. Marks River began surrounding their home. Torrential downpours and flash flooding from the storm over the weekend caused 13 deaths in Central America.

By late Tuesday, Michael was causing major disruptions to USA oil and gas production as it churned north, gathering greater strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Florida, freeing up federal assistance to supplement state and local disaster response.